Guiding Exceptional Parents

09/04/2025

OMG! This list of EF boosting skills for all ages (and I mean ALL ages - I loved the ones they suggested for adults!) is so good. Lots of amazing ideas here!

Boost executive function in the transition back to school! 5 easy and fun strategies for every age and stage, from a neurodiversity affirming therapist in Bethesda, MD.

09/02/2025

I love Jessica McCabe! And this is a great video about how to talk to yourself when you make a mistake. (Hint: don't berate yourself! Get guidance, don't engage in all-or-none thinking, and practice self-compassion!)

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEpciW9k9ew

Thanks to Sunsama for sponsoring this video! It’s an ADHD-friendly tool that works with your brain, not against it! Give Sunsama a try. Right now they’re off...

09/01/2025

Yes!! Skills aren't "all or none." Each person has their own unique pattern of relative strengths and weaknesses. Understanding what the executive functioning skills *are* can help you think about your own profile.

Why does your productivity vary across tasks and timeframes? Your executive function strengths and challenges may explain why.

08/19/2025

I didn't know about some of the challenges people with psychiatric conditions face when it's hot outside. Medication side effects are one piece, but there are also physical differences that go with some conditions!

Read here: https://helpinthehomellc.com/2025/07/18/how-the-summer-heat-impacts-people-with-complex-mental-health-needs/

08/15/2025

Join us for a free, family-friendly event where drivers and passengers of all ages can learn the technical rules of a traffic stop and interact with police officers in a calm, friendly environment.

Driving and prospective driving participants will also receive helpful resources, including:
📄 A printed copy of “PFA Tips: What to Do During a Traffic Stop”
📂 An envelope to hold registration, insurance, a disclosure card, and PFA tips for the officer
📋 A laminated visor card with the top five instructions to remember during a stop
🪪 Autism and Developmental Disability disclosure cards (if appropriate)

It’s a great opportunity to build confidence, learn what to expect, and strengthen positive relationships between the community and law enforcement.

📅 August 21
📍 Riverdale Baptist Church, Upper Marlboro
🌐 https://pathfindersforautism.org/traffic-stop-pgco/

Everyone is welcome. This is a fully inclusive event for the whole community.

08/14/2025

This is an incredible primer on co-occuring medical conditions experienced by Autistic and ADHD adults by Mel Houser, with suggestions for questions related to history, diagnostic workup, and suggestions for what works (and what doesn’t.)

Resources for clinicians to support the healthcare of Autistic and ADHD patients.

08/12/2025

Emerging research suggests that metabolic and environmental factors can contribute to mental illness, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive, biopsychosocial approach. It's important to address any underlying physical causes of mental illness.

Read here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-healthy-journey/202412/the-missing-piece-of-the-us-mental-health-crisis

The mental health crisis in the U.S. will not be solved simply by expanding access to traditional treatments. Addressing root causes is a critical next step to progress.

08/10/2025

"Between limited staffing within the Maryland Department of Health and inadequate communication between branches of the agency, people with developmental disabilities are falling through the cracks and losing Medicaid coverage for crucial services." This is happening to friends, clients, and colleagues of mine here in Maryland. It's shameful.

An increasing number of people with developmental disabilities are falling through the cracks of Medicaid, going months without health care coverage because the state can’t keep pace with new applications and wrongful termination appeals.

08/08/2025

"Facing the Falls" follows Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan’s journey into the Grand Canyon, and in the process helps her understand the challenges of being disabled.

"...the best way to be a beacon for the disability community ... is to be myself: flawed, courageous, and terrified at the same time, constantly learning, happy to ask for help, loud in the face of injustice, and proudly disabled."

Disability advocate Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan on her new short documentary film, Facing the Falls, directed by Celia Aniskovich and produced by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.

08/01/2025

Talking to a child about their autism diagnosis can help them build self-understanding and confidence; the conversation should be ongoing, tailored to their age and readiness.

Learn about how to approach discussing an autism diagnosis with your kid, including tips for what to say at different ages.

07/25/2025

"...teaching water safety is critical because 71% of the deaths that occur due to wandering and elopement are due to drowning. Make sure your child can swim, doggy paddle, float… anything to sustain life if they fall into water."

Read here: https://pathfindersforautism.org/articles/safety/pfa-tips-make-swimming-fun-and-safe/